ESPN+ television alternatives

Who are ESPN+’s competitors?

When it comes to the variety of sports content you get, ESPN+ doesn’t have an equal. It also has a ton of exclusive content. However, if you’re trying to cut the cord, DIRECTV STREAM might be the better option, since you get a ton of sports channels (including at least two HD ESPN channels, which aren’t included in ESPN+). But it’ll cost you $70–$150, which is pricey for live TV streaming services.

Other (less expensive) options include Fubo, Sling TV, Hulu+ Live TV, and YouTube TV. These live TV streaming services are similar to cable TV, in that you’ll watch sports on channels like ESPN, TNT, and NBC. That also means they pair well with ESPN+, since some games on ESPN+ require credentials from a cable TV provider or live TV streaming service anyway.

Finally, Peacock TV is a solid alternative to ESPN+ if it carries your favorite sports and teams. It has live games, especially for international sports like soccer, golf, and tennis, but you can catch some NFL, NBA, and MLB games too. Of course, it won’t have all the ESPN original sports documentaries and talk shows you’d get with ESPN+.

Taking your shows on the road?

ESPN+ doesn’t have DVR capabilities. You can download some content to watch offline, like ESPN’s original 30 for 30 series, but figuring out how isn’t intuitive. The easiest way to figure out what shows are downloadable was to tap the download icon at the top of the app, then confirm you want to browse downloadable content. If you decide to stick to streaming online, you get at least three simultaneous streams (we managed to get five going at once).
Unfortunately, ESPN+ doesn’t have a free trial, so you’ll need to pay for at least one month to try it out. The good news is there’s no contract, so you can drop the service before your next billing period if it’s not what you were looking for (or you find out you can’t get the big game due to blackouts).